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Exclusive: The Trump administration sends a “war message” to Iraq: hints at decisive action.

The US State Department issued a stern warning to Iranian-backed armed factions in Iraq on Thursday, vowing to act “decisively” to protect US interests.

A State Department spokesperson told Shafaq News Agency, “The designations of Iran-backed terrorist organizations simply make one thing clear: these groups use terrorism to attack Americans in Iraq in service of Iran’s interests, and have done so for decades. They also exploit Iraq’s economy to fund Iran’s terrorist activities around the world.”

The US spokesman indicated that “under President Trump’s bold leadership, the United States will act decisively to ensure the protection of American interests in Iraq and the region.”

However, the spokesman cautioned that “the United States is committed to its partners throughout Iraq who are working to build a truly sovereign, stable, and prosperous country.”

He added, “The current administration is in constant communication with partners throughout Iraq and supports Iraqi actors who share the United States’ priorities and concerns.”

According to him, there are tangible economic achievements, saying, “Just today, a deal was signed between the Iraqi government and ExxonMobil to develop the Majnoon oil field, and recent US diplomatic efforts have led to the reopening of the pipeline between Iraq and Turkey.”

The US State Department spokesperson stated that “deals like these will deliver real and tangible benefits to both Americans and Iraqis, and are a testament to the partnership between the United States and Iraq.”

Shafaq.com

Iraq wins 32 international lawsuits, saving it from losses estimated at more than $2 billion.

The Ministry of Justice announced on Thursday that it had won 32 lawsuits, arbitrations, and recovery claims over the past three years, from 2023 to 2025, sparing Iraq more than $2 billion in damages.

The ministry explained in a statement today that the total sums recovered amounted to two billion, five hundred and ninety-nine million, eight hundred and eighty-five thousand, three hundred and forty-five US dollars, in addition to forty million euros.

The statement added that these sums were being claimed by foreign entities and international companies in lawsuits filed against the Iraqi state before international courts and arbitration bodies.

Shafaq.com

Prime Minister’s Advisor: The Securities and Commodities Authority ended market chaos and contributed to regulating national investment.

The Prime Minister’s advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, confirmed on Thursday that the Securities Commission has ended market chaos and contributed to regulating national investment in the country. Saleh told the official news agency that “the Securities Commission has achieved significant results during its journey, most notably the establishment of an institutional market system, a necessary step towards building a sound financial market.”

He added, “The Securities Commission market was properly established through a partnership between the state and the private sector, relying on strong tools, most notably the Iraq Stock Exchange and a financial oversight body that formed a fundamental foundation for embodying the state’s philosophy in this partnership.”

He also explained that “these important results have helped fill the void and established foundations upon which we can quickly build. They have also ended the role of unregulated markets through which domestic capital was channeled abroad, weakening our ability to attract financial capital.”

He continued, “The Securities Commission is the regulatory body for the markets, and its oversight function is to ensure competition and prevent monopolies.” He noted that “the Commission has future responsibilities that align with the Iraqi economic philosophy based on partnership between the state and the private sector, enabling the government to regulate the market and maintain its competitiveness.”

Burathanews.com

Central Bank Governor: We have received 80 applications to establish digital banks.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, announced on Thursday that the bank has received approximately 80 applications to establish digital banks, stressing that the names of licensed digital banks will be announced soon. Al-Alaq told the official agency, “The Central Bank has received between 70 and 80 applications to establish a digital bank. This number can only be licensed according to a set of criteria based on market studies, the nature of the work, and the experiences of other countries, where the number of digital banks usually does not exceed two, three, or four.”

He continued, “Therefore, we have begun vetting processes to determine requirements in a way that ensures that licenses are granted to entities with the best qualifications.” He emphasized, “We are now in the final stages of announcing the banks that will be licensed.”

He added, “Before making the final decision, we engaged Oliver Wyman to review the criteria set by the Central Bank, based on which licenses will be granted.”

Al-Alaq also explained that “the aforementioned company has been studying these criteria over the past few days, having been preoccupied with the banking reform file and the comprehensive plan, and we believe we will receive a final answer within the next few days.”

Burathanews.com

Nechirvan Barzani: The Trump administration represents an opportunity for us.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Wednesday that the administration of US President Donald Trump represents “an opportunity for us.”

“We believe we have good relations with the United States, and we support US President Donald Trump’s policies toward opportunities and stability in the region and in Gaza,” Barzani said in a dialogue session during the Middle East Reform Forum (MERI) held in Erbil, attended by Shafaq News Agency.

He added, “The United States has helped us through many difficult times. We confronted ISIS with US assistance, and their role was supportive of the Peshmerga forces.” He explained, “We see the Trump administration as an opportunity for us.”

Shafaq.com

Al-Sudani confirms the continuation of financial and banking reform.

As part of its efforts to enhance transparency, consolidate governance, and enhance the credibility of state institutions before the international community, the government, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, continues to implement comprehensive reforms based on applying best financial and administrative practices, combating corruption, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, contributing to building a modern national economy.

In this context, the Prime Minister received a delegation from KPMG, a global auditing and financial consulting firm, yesterday, Tuesday. They reviewed existing cooperation with the Iraqi banking sector, ways to support transparency, and enhance the country’s financial reputation internationally. Al-Sudani emphasized that banking reform has become a model of commitment and trust, praising the pivotal role of financial audit firms in consolidating governance and professionalism.

He emphasized the importance of leveraging the company’s expertise in restructuring government companies and raising their operational efficiency, managing public debt, and drafting contracts for major strategic projects. He also affirmed the government’s support for the Central Bank and the Trade Bank of Iraq to ensure the rapid completion of audit tasks in accordance with international standards and the timetable for issuing banks’ final accounts. Regarding administrative reform, the Prime Minister chaired the 40th regular session of the Council, during which he discussed the general situation and took the necessary decisions. In light of the unified report on violations of Law No. 28 of 2019 on the Cancellation of Financial Privileges for Officials, Al-Sudani directed all government agencies to comply with the law and return any excess vehicles or protection within seven days, while referring those who refrain from doing so to the Integrity Commission to ensure the protection of public funds and promote a culture of accountability.

The Council also voted to appoint (15) general managers in various government departments, while it decided to dismiss the Director of the Investments and Contracts Department at the Ministry of Electricity and transfer him to a lower level, based on performance evaluation. These decisions reflect the government’s keenness to achieve administrative reform, enhance efficiency, and link responsibility to accountability, in line with the comprehensive objectives of the government’s program for economic and financial reform.

Alsabaah.iq

The President of the Republic affirms the development of Iraq’s foreign relations and calls for the approval of the oil and gas law.

Iraqi oilPresident Abdul Latif Rashid affirmed on Tuesday that Iraq’s foreign relations are witnessing positive developments, both with neighboring countries and the international community.
Rashid said in a press statement, “The water issue represents a sovereign and vital issue for Iraq, and it is necessary to strengthen diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Iran, and Syria, in order to ensure a fair and sufficient share of water that meets the country’s needs.”

He added, “It is important to work on reforming domestic policies in water resource management,” noting that “it is the responsibility of the federal government and the Kurdistan Region to build strong relations based on cooperation and understanding to achieve the aspirations of all citizens.”

The President continued, “The failure to pass an oil and gas law has contributed to the lack of detailed regulation of oil production, export, and revenue distribution mechanisms.” He explained that “the recent agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region on the oil file is a positive and important step toward building trust, but it requires permanent legal consolidation through the adoption of an oil and gas law, which represents the true guarantee of a stable and sustainable relationship between the two parties.”

Alforatnews.iq

In America’s absence, China seizes Iraqi oil in September

The majority of Iraq’s seaborne crude oil exports went to Asian countries, with China, India, and South Korea accounting for the largest share in September, according to official figures.

The details of daily exports are as follows:

China: 1.106 million barrels per day, up 34,000 barrels per day from the same period last year.

India: 873,000 barrels per day, up 39,000 barrels per day compared to September 2024.

South Korea: 293,000 barrels per day, up 6,000 barrels per day from last year.

Meanwhile, European countries also recorded an increase in their imports of Iraqi oil, as follows:

Greece: 197,000 barrels per day, compared to 192,000 in September 2024.

France: Its imports jumped to 134,000 barrels per day, compared to 45,000 in the same month last year.

Iraqi oil exports continue to support the national economy and enhance Iraq’s role in global energy markets, with a clear focus on meeting growing demand from both Asian and European countries.

Shafaq.com

Iraqi elections: Al-Sudani’s balance grants him US blessing for a “second term”

The upcoming Iraqi elections represent a major turning point in the country’s history, potentially reshaping the political system. There appears to be an early indication from the United States that it is prepared to engage with Mohammed Shia al-Sudani if ​​he serves a second term as prime minister, according to the oil-focused website Oil Price.

The website noted the presence of several vital geopolitical issues, with China currently controlling two-thirds of Iraq’s oil production, while the United States and its allies are intensifying their multibillion-dollar investments in the energy sector to counter growing Chinese influence.

According to the US report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, the Iraqi elections scheduled for November could represent a pivotal turning point since the overthrow of former President Saddam Hussein in 2003. The report noted that the voting process, and the subsequent steps to select a president and appoint a prime minister, will be complicated by the absence of conclusive electoral results due to the proportional representation system. The report considered this process to be crucial not only for Iraq, but also for all major powers in the world in the coming years.

The report explained that there are significant stakes for the United States and China, as evidenced by the size and scope of their investments in Iraq’s main economic driver, the energy sector. It indicated that Washington lost much of its influence on the ground over time after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, while China took advantage of this vacuum, with the help of both Russia and Iran.

He added that this shift in Iraq’s engagement with China rather than the United States has accelerated since 2018, following Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran, which uses Iraq as an arena for its “insurgency.” It further accelerated after the end of the US combat mission in Iraq in December 2021, coinciding with escalating tensions in the trade war between Washington and Beijing. These factors have prompted China to accelerate its investments in Iraq without significant restrictions.

According to the report, Chinese companies now manage more than two-thirds of Iraq’s oil production, control more than a third of its proven oil reserves, and hold controlling stakes in several vital oil and gas infrastructure projects, including ports and refineries.

In contrast, the United States and its allies, particularly Britain and France, have begun to counter this Chinese expansion by pumping massive investments into giant oil and gas projects, after years of hesitation due to corruption concerns. In this context, the report cited projects by TotalEnergies ($27 billion) and BP ($25 billion).

At the same time, the report stated that Russia continues to play its role, as mapped out by Beijing, by deepening the rift between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.

The report indicated that these conflicting pressures are weighing heavily on current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whom it described as the most likely candidate to retain his position. The report praised his ability to maintain a delicate and exceptional balance between the various forces without unduly disturbing any party.

The report found that al-Sudani has primarily adopted a pragmatic approach. Despite his affiliation with the Shiite bloc, he belongs to the most moderate of its three main factions. His approach has been characterized by small, consistent steps in several areas, including the addition of major energy projects with major powers, the implementation of new infrastructure projects for roads and refineries, and the fight against corruption. This has had a positive impact on the return of major Western oil and gas companies to work in Iraq.

The report quoted sources close to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil as saying that Western companies are now largely satisfied with elements of the current contracts, which had previously been a source of concern, particularly regarding transparency.

According to a prominent source within the ministry, “Many Iraqis view al-Sudani as a centrist figure within the Shiite bloc, more nationalistic than the Coordination Framework, which is close to Iran, and less religious than the followers of Muqtada al-Sadr.”

The source added, “These voters hope that the Sudanese electoral coalition (Reconstruction and Development) will secure enough additional seats—perhaps around 50—to have a decisive influence in post-election negotiations, whether in selecting the president or naming the prime minister.”

Despite the Sadrist movement’s boycott of the elections, the report indicated that many of the movement’s voters may be inclined to support al-Sudani’s moderate nationalist agenda, rather than the pro-Iranian forces within the Coordination Framework.

The report indicated that a number of Shiite factions remain ideologically, financially, and strategically linked to Iran, and some have direct ties to the Popular Mobilization Forces. However, the report quoted the source as saying, “The desire to continue this deep relationship with Iran has begun to decline, especially among Iraqi youth.”

The report suggested that al-Sudani likely received support from Qais Khazali and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, despite former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s attempts to obstruct such support. The report noted that al-Maliki’s position appears to be tied to his personal ambitions to return to the premiership.

The report also noted that Khazali’s support would be beneficial to al-Sudani in his dealings with the Kurdish bloc, given his good relationship with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani. The report cited the close coordination between the two parties during the 2023 municipal elections, which contributed to strengthening the PUK’s position in Kirkuk.

Accordingly, the report anticipated the possibility of reaching an agreement to expand this alliance in support of Al-Sudani’s candidacy for prime minister again, especially since he is considered the most likely candidate to conclude mutual support deals with prominent political figures, most notably Mohammed al-Halbousi, who expressed his support for Al-Sudani’s efforts to implement a comprehensive development program focused on institutional reform, addressing the displacement issue, compensating victims of terrorism, and achieving economic recovery.

The report concluded by noting that al-Sudani’s re-assumption of the prime ministership would be a positive development for the United States and its allies, according to a senior legal source in Washington with ties to the US Treasury Department, who said: “Al-Sudani is someone we can work with.”

Shafaq.com